Umbrella construction



Mar ch 22, 1938.

E. w. WEAVER 2,111,578

UMBRELLA CONS TRUCTION Filed NOV. 9, 1934 2 Shets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

EZ l EETO/Y 246%,? V5? March 22, 1938. E. W. WEAVER 2,111,578

UMBRELLA CONSTRUCTION Filed Nov. 9, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 F/G 9 INVENTOR.

EL Mew/v WflWI/EE ATTORNEY5 Patented Mar. 22, .1938

TES

2,111,578 BELLA CONSTRUCTION Elverton W. Weaver, Cleveland Heights, Ohio Application November 9, 1934, Serial No. 752,293

'7 Claims. (Cl. -20) This invention relates to umbrella construction, and as its principal object aims to provide an improved umbrella of such simple and inexpensive construction that it can be readily sold as an emergency article intended to give efiicient protection throughout a relatively short life.

Another object of the invention is to provide an umbrella of improved and, economical construction having a one piece paper cover which is stretched taut and assumes approximately the shape of a spheroidal segment.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved umbrellaembodying new novel hinge means for connecting the ribs with the post.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved umbrella wherein a novel form of spreader is employed for actuating the ribs.

A further object of the invention is to provide an umbrella having a cover of novel construction.

The invention may be further briefly summarized as consisting in certain novel combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and more particularly set out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings,

Fig. 1 is a top plan View of an umbrella embodying my invention, showing the umbrella in its extended condition.

Fig. 2 is a sectional View thereof.

Fig. 3 is another sectional view of the umbrella showing the same in a nearly collapsed condition.

Fig. 4 is an edge view of a portion of the cover showing a feature of construction thereof.

Fig. 5 is a partial sectional view through the cover, as indicated by line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a partial plan view, on a larger scale, with the cover removed and showing the hinge means for the ribs.

Fig. 7' is 'a partial sectional elevation taken through the top part ofthe umbrella and illustrating the construction thereof on a larger scale.

Fig. 8 is a partial sectional view illustrating the construction of the spreader.

Fig. 9 is a transverse sectional View through the spreader as indicated by line 99 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 16 is a partial side view illustrating the connection between one of the ribs and a stay.

Fig; 11 is a plan view thereof, and

Fig. 12 is a partial sectional view taken through the top portion of-the cover similar to that of Fig. 5 but showing a modified construction.

In the accompanying drawings to which detailed reference will now be made, I have shown an umbrella of improved and simplified construction which may be economically produced.

and sold as an emergency article to give efiicient protection throughout a relatively short life. While the drawings illustrate what I now regard to be the preferred form of my improved umbrella, it will be understood, of course, that the drawings are to be regarded as illustrative only, and that the invention may be embodied in various other constructions and arrangements.

Before proceeding with the detailed description of my improved umbrella, I wish to point out that my invention contemplates the provision of an umbrella having a cover which is formed from a single sheet of paper and is of such' shape that it causes a flexing of the ribs when the umbrella is extended, whereby the cover is stretched taut and assumes approximately the shape of a spheroidal segment. This shape is very desirable in an umbrella because of the degree of protection which it affords.

Heretofore in umbrella construction this desired spheroidal segmental shape has been obtainable only for umbrellas having cloth covers, and then only by piecing together previously cut sections of cloth. In such umbrellas as have heretofore been constructed with paper covers, the shape of the cover when extended has been substantially conical.

As will be explained more fully hereinafter, I obtain the spheroidal segmental shape with a one piece paper cover by providing a novel construction for the latter whereby the perimeter of the cover is reduced to cause a bowing or flexing of the ribs when the umbrella is extended, which results in a stretching of the cover.

As shown in the drawings, my improved umbrella is of the folding type and, in general, comprises an upright center staif or post l5 upon which a folding framework It is supported, and a cover I! extending over the framework. The

post may be of any appropriate construction, and l as shown in the dravw'ngs, may comprise simply a round staff of wood or any other suitable material. The framework of the umbrella comprises resiliently flexible ribs l8 radiating from the upper portion of the post, and a spreader for the ribs. The spreader consistsof stays 20 which are connected with the respective ribs and with a sleevemember 2! which is slidable on the post. The ribs and stays maybe of any appropriate construction and may, for example, comprise relatively thin strips of wood or any other suitable material. I

The radiating ribs of the framework may be provided in any number necessary to efficiently support and distend the cover H, such that when the umbrella is in its extended condition it will have approximately the shape of a spherical or spheroidal segment. In this instance I show the umbrella as having eight such radiating ribs and a corresponding number of stays, but this number may be varied if. desired.

To provide hinge means for the inner ends of the ribs which will be of efficient and economical construction, I form the upper end of the post with a plurality of radiating slots 22 corresponding in number with the number of radiating ribs. The upper end of the post is also preferably provided with a central recess or bore 23 with which the inner ends of the radiating slots communicate. Hinge members 24, preferably in the form of strips or strands of fiexible material, are disposed in the radiating slots with their ends projecting therefrom and connected with the inner ends of the ribs.

These hinge members may be formed of any suitable flexible material, and, if desired, strands or tape-like strips of cloth may be used for this purpose. The strips forming the hinge members may be arranged to extend through two aligned slots of the post with the projecting ends of the strip connected to the inner ends of the correspondingly aligned ribs. When the strips are thus arranged it may be desirable to twist or fold the intermediate portions of the strips, as indicated at 26 in Fig. '7, so that these portions will be more readily received in the radiating slots. It is not necessary, however, that a strip extend through aligned slots of the post, but the strip may be arranged to lie in the slots with the ends thereof extending out through any two slots of the series. When the strips extend through aligned slots of the post, as just explained, it will be understood, of \course, that the central portions of the strips will be in superposed crossing relation, and this condition has been indicated in Fig. 7. Where the strips are arranged with the ends thereof extending out through two immediately adjacent slots, such crossing of the central portions of the strips may be avoided.

The projecting ends of the strips preferably, though not necessarily, engage the lower faces 2? of the ribs. The strip ends may be connected to the inner ends of the ribs in various ways, including the use of glue for this purpose either alone or in combination with other means, but I find that these ends can be quickly and strongly attached to the rib ends by means of. wire staples 28. These staples may extend into or through the ribs, and when extended through the ribs may be clinched on the reverse side thereof.

When the strips are arranged in the slots and are connected to the rib ends, as above explained, it will be seen that the strips form efficient hinge members, and that they retain the rib ends in adjacent relation to the post so that when the ribs are extended or spread, their end faces 38 may abut against the post. The upper portion of the post thus also serves as a means for limiting the inward movement of the ribs.

To prevent the hinge members from becoming disengaged from the slots 22, I provide a cap member 32 which may be secured against the end face of the post by means of a suitable nail or pin 33. The pin extends through the cap member and the recess 23 and is driven into the solid portion of the post. The cap member 32 may be of wood or composition or any other suitable material, and is preferably constructed of. such size and diameter that it projects laterally beyond the post and thus forms an abutment which prevents shifting of the rib ends outwardly along the post. This projecting portion of the cap member may be formed with a depending lip or flange 34 to be engaged by the ribs. When the ribs are in the extended position, or while being moved to their extended position, the top faces 35 thereof engage the flange 34 of the cap member 32, and this engagement prevents outward shifting of the hinged inner ends of the ribs. It is not necessary to my invention that the laterally projecting portion of the cap member 32 be provided with the depending flange 34, and, if desired, this flange may be omitted, in which case the outward shifting movement of the ribs would be limited by the engagement of the ribs with the under face 36 of the projecting portion of the cap member.

The opening and closing movement of the ribs is caused by movement of the sleeve part 2| of the spreader along the post 15 in the usual manner. Different positions of the spreader, and the corresponding positions assumed by the ribs, are indicated in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings which show the umbrella in its fully opened or extended condition and in its partially collapsed condition. A stop, such as a suitable washer or collar 38, may be provided at a proper point on the upper portion of the post to limit the opening movement of the spreader. A spring latch 39 may also be provided on the post below the stop 38 for cooperation with the sleeve member of the spreader for retaining the latter in the position corresponding with the extended condition of the umbrella.

As mentioned above, the spreader for the ribs comprises the stays which correspond in numher with the ribs, and the sleeve member 2| which is slidable along the post. The outer ends of the stays are connected to the respective ribs by a hinge member 40. This hinge member may comprise a tape-like strip of suitable flexible material, and has one end thereof connected to the lower face 21 of the rib at an intermediate point, and its other end connected to the outer end of the stay. The connections between the hinge strip and the rib and between the hinge strip and the stay may be formed by any suitable means such as by the use of glue alone or in combination with other means, but are preferably formed by the use of. wire staples 4 I.

As shown in the drawings, the hinge strip 40 is preferably arranged so that the outer end of the stay 29 extends into the loop or bight of the strip. This arrangement for the hinge strip increases the strength and durability of the hinge connection at these points, because it prevents the hinge members from being stripped from the ribs or stays, as might occur with other arrangements.

The inner ends of the stays are hingedly connectedto the sleeve member 2|. As best shown in Fig. 8 of the drawings, this sleeve member is constructed with an inner ferrule or tubular member 43, which is disposed around the post. This ferrule may be formed as an endless ring or may comprise a strip of sheet material bent to tubular shape.

The hinge connections for the inner ends of the stays may be formed by flexible material arranged to provide radiating hinge strips 44, which project from the upper end of the sleeve member and which are connected to the respective stays, as by means of the wire staples 45. The hinge members 44 may be individual strips of flexible material, or may be strips which are only partially cut from a piece of sheet material, such that some or all of these members remain connected at their lower end by a band of the sheet material. The material forming the hinge members 44 is arranged as shown in Figs. 8 and 9, with the lower portion thereof disposed around and engaging the outer surface of the ferrule 43 to constitute a part of the sleeve member of the spreader. 'A retaining tape or band 46 may be wound around this part of the hinge material and the ferrule 43 to strengthen the sleeve member and to retain the parts in their properly assembled relation.

If desired, the ferrule 43 may be formed with polygonal faces corresponding in number with the number of stays, and the flexible hinge material may be applied to the ferrule so that the hinge members 44 engage the respective polygonal faces. The hinge members may be connected to the polygonal faces or may be held thereagainst by the retaining tape 46.

The cover I! of 'my improved umbrella is formed of a single sheet of flexible material, such as paper or other appropriate sheet material, treated with a substance to render the same water repellent. The cover is formed from a sheet of this material of generally circular or disc-like shape. By the term generally circular I intend to include the shape of the cover as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, wherein the cover is shown as having a perimeter of polygonal contour. The number of sides of the polygon may be varied and will usually be determined from the number of ribs employed in the umbrella, and in this instance the perimeter of the cover is that of an octagon.

In order that the cover may have a somewhat dished shape, so that when the umbrella is extended the cover will be tensioned by the ribs and assume the approximately spherical or spheroidal shape mentioned above, I fold'the cover at a plurality of points around the edge thereof. These folds 48, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4 of the drawings, are of substantially triangular shape and are in radially disposed relation with respect to the post and located preferably at the corners of the polygon where the radiating ribs are located. The folds 48, or gores as they are sometimes called, each consist of a tight or closed substantially triangular fold or bight of cover material which is pressed down flat against an adjacent portion of the cover.

The folds may be provided in any suitable number' but preferably correspond in number with the number of ribs. The primary purpose of these folds is to shorten the perimeter of the cover so that the spheroidal shape can be obtained'by the use of a cover formed from a single sheet of paper or the like without the need of cutting or piecing of the cover. The shortened perimeter causes the outer portion of the cover to constrain the ribs so that they will be bowed upwardly by the stays when the umbrella is extended. The upward bowing of the ribs causes the cover to be stretched taut and to assume the approximately spheroidal shape mentioned above.

As shown in Fig. 4 the drawings, the folds 48 provide a triple thickness of the material of the cover and by arranging these folds to overlie the respective ribs, I thus obtain a reenforced portion of the cover at these points. The cover may be strongly secured to the ribs at these points by suitable connecting means such as wire staples ii) extending through the folds and into'the ribs.

When the cover is applied to the framework of the umbrella it extends over the ribs it, as shown in the drawings, and may also extend over the cap member 32 whichis secured to the upper end of the post. To accommodate the cap member'32 the cover may be provided at this point with a preformed hollow extension 58. The cover may be reenforced at this point if necessary or desirable, by the provision of a patch 5! of suitable material which extends into and around the extension 50. It may be desirable to connect the cover of the umbrella with the cap member 32 and this may be accomplished in various ways. One manner of establishing this connection is to provide the cap member 32 with a peripheral groove 52 and to arrange a retaining member 53, such as a strand of wire or other material, to press the cover into the groove.

The umbrella may be provided with a striker to prevent damage to the cover by engagement of the top of the umbrella with the ground or pavement. The striker may be carried by the pin 33 or the cap member 32 or, if desired, may be mounted upon the cover, as shown in Fig. 12 of the drawings. When mounted on the cover the striker may be formed as a rounded body 55 of composition or other suitable material, and may have a stem 56 extending through an opening of the cover and a retaining head 5? which is adapted to be inserted through the opening but which prevents withdrawal of the stem from the opening. When the striker is provided on the cover the striker overlies the pin 33, with the head 51 of the striker stem engaging the head of the pin.

It will be understood, of course, that the post I5 and the other parts of the umbrella will be of appropriate lengths and proportions, and, if desired, the post may be provided at the lower end thereof with a suitable handle or grip which is represented in this instance as the ball 59.

From the foregoing description and the accompanying drawings it will now be readily understood that I have provided an umbrella of very simple and economical construction, such that the umbrella may be sold at low cost for use as an emergency article. It will also be understood from the foregoing description that my improved umbrella embodies a novel hinge construction for the ribs, as Well as a novel form of spreader and a novel cover construction.

While I have illustrated and described the umbrella of my invention in a somewhat detailed manner, it will be understood, of course, that I do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction and'arrangem-ent of parts herein disclosed, but regard my invention as including such changes and modifications as do not involve a departure from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention I claim:

1. An umbrella comprising a frame having a plurality of radiating wood ribs, a generally polygonal'sheet of paper forming a cover for the: frame and having substantially triangular folds formed therein at spaced points and providing a plurality means projecting from said slots and havingcomnec tion with said ribs. 7

3. In an umbrella the combination of a post having a plurality of slots adjacent the upper end thereof, a plurality of radiating ribs, and strips of flexible material lying in said slots and having connection with said ribs.

4. In an umbrella the combination of a post having radiating slots therein, a plurality of radiating ribs having inner ends adapted to abut against the post, and strands of flexible material disposed in said slots with ends thereof extending from the slots and connected with said inner ends of the ribs.

5. In an umbrella having a post, a tubular means slidable thereon, a plurality of radiating ribs having hinge connection with the post adjacent its upper end, a spreader means for the ribs comprising stays connected with the ribs, and flexible hinge material having radiating strip portions connected with the stays and other portions connected with said tubular means.

6. In an umbrella having a post and a plurality of radiating ribs having hinge connection with the post adjacent its upper end, a spreader means comprising stays having their outer ends connected with the respective ribs, a tubular member disposed around the post and slidable therealong, flexible hinge strips having connection with the inner ends of the stays and engaging said tubular member, and retaining means extending around said hinge strips and the tubular member.

7. In an umbrella having a post and a plurality of radiating ribs having hinge connection with the post adjacent its upper end, a spreader means comprising stays for the respective ribs, a tubular member disposed around the post and having polygonal faces, strips of flexible material having connection with the stays and. engaging said polygonal faces, and retaining means extending around said strips and said tubular member.

ELVERTON W. WEAVER. 

